Plum tree named &#39;Plumcandy XII&#39;

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a plum tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, and very productive tree. Being self-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from another plum or interspecific tree that blooms during the mid to late season, such as ‘Plumsweet IV’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,461). The present variety&#39;s abundance of blossoms and pollen entices strong bee activity to facilitate pollination. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during the first week of October, with first picking on Oct. 1, 2015. The fruit is uniform, very large in size, nearly full red in skin color, freestone in type, pure yellow in flesh color, firm in texture, juicy, and very good in flavor.

Botanical classification: Prunus salicina.

Variety denomination: ‘PLUMCANDY XII’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we, the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. We also grow a lesser number of open pollinated seeds of each of these fruits. The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of plum tree, which has been denominated varietally as ‘Plumcandy XII’.

During a typical blooming season we isolate as seed parents both individual and groups of different plum trees by covering them with screen houses. A hive of bees is placed inside each such house, and bouquets to provide pollen from different plum, apricot, and interspecific hybrid trees are placed in buckets near the trees approximately every two days for the duration of the bloom. During 2007 one such house containing ‘September Yummy’ plum tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,220) was crossed by us in this manner. To pollinate this plum tree, we selected bouquets from several sources of plum trees without keeping specific written details. Upon reaching maturity the fruit from this plum tree was harvested, and the seeds were removed, cracked, stratified and germinated as a group with the label “H12”. They were grown as seedlings on their own root in our greenhouse and upon reaching dormancy transplanted to a cultivated area of our experimental orchard located near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley). During the summer of 2011 the claimed variety was selected by us as a single plant from the group of seedlings described above. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of plum tree, we asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimental orchard described above, and such reproduction of plant and fruit characteristics were true to the original tree in all respects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of ‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented) rootstock upon which the present variety was compatible and true to type.

The present variety is most similar to its seed parent, ‘September Yummy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,220) plum, by having a large, vigorous, and very productive tree, by blooming in the mid to late season, by being self-unfruitful, and by producing plums that are fairly globose in shape, nearly full red in skin color, very good in flavor, juicy, and firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom by producing plums that are much larger in size, by having full yellow flesh color without red bleeding near the skin, and that ripen about twenty days later.

The present variety is also similar to ‘Latesweet XX’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,740), by being self-unfruitful, by blooming in the mid to late season, and by producing fruit that is full red in skin color, yellow in flesh color, firm in texture, juicy, freestone in type, and sweet in flavor, but is distinguished therefrom by producing fruit that is much larger in size, that is globose instead of oblate in shape, and that matures about fifteen days earlier.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

The present plum variety is characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, and very productive tree. Being self-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from another plum or interspecific tree that blooms during the mid to late season, such as ‘Plumsweet IV’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,461). The present variety's abundance of blossoms and pollen entices strong bee activity to facilitate pollination. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during the first week of October, with first picking on Oct. 1, 2015. The fruit is uniform, very large in size, nearly full red in skin color, freestone in type, pure yellow in flesh color, firm in texture, juicy, and very good in flavor.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned to display the characteristics of the skin color and form, one divided fruit to reveal the flesh and stone, typical leaves, and two insets depicting the flower buds and blossoms as they appeared on the tree during the blooming season.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics of this new and distinct variety of plum tree, the following has been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand, Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at the state of shipping ripe on Oct. 8, 2015, on the original tree during its eighth growing season. All major color code designations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also used occasionally. It is to be noted that the 2015 fruit season in California was very warm during the spring and the ripening times of almost all varieties were about twenty days earlier than other years.

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—Large, reaching and maintaining a height of 15′ [4.57             m.] and a spread of 9′ [2.74 m.] after eight growing seasons             utilizing typical dormant pruning.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and             fertilization. The variety grows about 4′ [1.22 m.] of             surplus top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant             should be grown on a standard commercial rootstock for             production purposes.         -   Growth.—Upright and dense.         -   Form.—Pruned to a Central Leader type.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to central California winters.         -   Heat tolerance.—Observed to perform adequately in typical             central California climatic conditions, which typically             include prolonged periods of heat.         -   Drought tolerance.—Variety is developed for commercial             orchards and requires regular irrigation.         -   Production.—Very productive, thinning usually necessary.         -   Fertility.—Self-unfruitful, requiring cross pollination by a             suitable mid to late seasonal blooming plum or             interspecific, such as ‘Plumsweet IV’ interspecific tree             (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,461).         -   Bearing.—Regular bearer, weather dependent, no crop failures             observed as of yet.         -   Trunk.—Size. — Stocky, reaching a maximum diameter of 5″             [127 mm.] after the eighth growing season. Texture. — Medium             roughness. Bark Color. — A Grayish brown [61. gy.Br] and             Dark grayish brown [62. d.gy.Br] variegation with Light             grayish yellowish brown [79. l.gy.yBr] crevices present.             Lenticels. — Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 6. Color:             Deep orange [51. deep 0]. Typical Size: ¼″ [6.4 mm.] in             length. The width is typically one fourth as much as the             length. Shape: Eye-shaped.         -   Branches.—Size. — Diameter of lowest hanger is 1¼″ [31.8             mm.] measured 6″ from the central leader. Texture. — Smooth             on first and second year wood, increasing roughness with             age. Color. — 1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R].             1st Year Wood Underside: Strong yellow green [117. s.YG].             Older Wood: A Light brownish gray [63. l.brGy] and Dark             brown [59. d.Br] variegation. Lenticels. — Approximate             Number Per Square Inch: 10. Color: Light yellowish brown             [76. l.yBr]. Typical size: Small, 1/32″ [0.8 mm.] in length.             The width is typically one fourth as much as the length.             Shape: Eye-shaped.         -   Leaves.—Size. — Medium. Average Length: 4⅛″ [104.8 mm.].             Average width: 1 15/16″ [49.2 mm.]. Arrangement. —             Alternate. Thickness. — Medium. Form. — Elliptical. Apex. —             Acuminate. Base. — Acute with an average angle base angle of             seventy degrees. Surface. — Smooth on both sides. Color. —             Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. Ventral             Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG]. Margin. — Finely             serrate. Venation. — Pinnately net veined. Petiole. —             Average Length: 15/16″ [23.8 mm.]. Average Thickness: 1/16″             [1.6 mm.]. Color: Moderate greenish yellow [102. m.gY] with             Grayish reddish orange [39. gy.rO] where exposed to             sunlight. Stipules. — Number: 2 per leaf, up to 6 per             growing tip. Average Length: ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. Color: Brilliant             yellow green [116. brill.YG] becoming Dark grayish reddish             brown [47. d.gy.rBr] with age. Glands. — Number: 1 to 4,             most often 2. Position: Usually alternate, positioned mostly             on the petiole. Form: Globose. Size: Small, 1/64″ [0.4 mm.]             in diameter. Color: Moderate greenish yellow [102. m.gY]             becoming Dark grayish reddish brown [47. d.gy.rBr] in the             center with age. Leaf Buds. — Pointed.         -   Flower buds.—Hardiness. — Hardy, with respect to central             California blooming season. Diameter. — Typically 3/16″ [4.8             mm.] 1 week before bloom. Length. — Typically ⅜″ [9.5 mm.) 1             week before bloom. Form. — Not appressed. Surface. —             Slightly pubescent. Color. — White (263. White].         -   Flowers.—Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single             pistil, about twenty-eight stamens, five sepals and petal             locations alternately positioned. Average Flower Diameter. —             1 1/16″ [27.0 mm.]. Average Flower Depth. — ⅜″ [9.5 mm.]             when fully open. Average Pedicel Length. — 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].             Number of Petals. — Five, no double blossoms observed. Petal             Shape. — Oval. Petal Margin. — Entire, somewhat wavy.             Average Petal Diameter. — 7/16″ [11.1 mm.]. Average Petal             Length. — ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Petal Apex. — Rounded. Petal Base.             — Rounded. Petal Color. — White [263. White] on both sides.             Anther Color. — Light orange yellow [70. l.OY]. Pollen             Production. — Abundant, bee enticing. Pollen Color. — Strong             yellow [84. s.Y]. Stigma Color. — Light greenish yellow             [101. l.gY]. Stigma Position. — Stigma is located slightly             below the surrounding anthers. Sepal Color. — Brilliant             yellow green [116. brill.YG] on both sides. Sepal Length. —             3/16″ [4.8 mm.]. Sepal Width. — 5/32″ [4.0 mm.]. Sepal Apex.             — Rounded to elliptical to match the width and length.             Average Pistil Length. — ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Average Stamen             Length. — 7/16″ [11.1 mm.]. Ovary. — Smooth. Fragrance. —             Moderate. Blooming Period. — Medium to late compared with             other varieties, about 2 days after ‘Santa Rosa’ plum             (unpatented). Onset of Bloom. — One percent on Feb.             20, 2015. Date of Full Bloom. — March 1, 2015. Duration of             Bloom. — One to two weeks, dependent on ambient temperature.             Bloom Density. — Heavy. Number per cluster. — Typically 3 or             4, up to 8 observed. -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—Shipping ripe, Oct. 8, 2015.         -   Date of first picking.—Oct. 1, 2015.         -   Date of last picking.—Oct. 20, 2015.         -   Size.—Uniform, very large. Average Diameter Axially. — 2¾″             [69.9 mm.]. Average Diameter Across Suture Plane. — 2 13/16″             [71.4 mm.]. Average Diamter Across Cheek Plain. — 2¾″ [69.9             mm.]. Typical Weight. — 6.8 ounces [193 grams].         -   Form.—Uniform, mostly symmetrical, globose. Longitudinal             Section Form. — Round to oval. Transverse Section Through             Diameter. — Round.         -   Suture.—A very shallow trough extending from the base to the             apex.         -   Ventral surface.—Rounded, very slight lipping toward the             base.         -   Lips.—Fairly equal.         -   Cavity.—Flaring, circular, suture showing on one side.             Depth. — 7/16″ [11.1 mm.]. Breadth. — 1¼″ [31.8 mm.].         -   Base.—Truncate, somewhat cordate when viewed parallel to the             suture.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Pistil point.—A Light yellow [86. l.Y] inconspicuous dot.         -   Stem.—Medium size. Average Length. — ⅜″ [9.5 mm.]. Average             Width. — ⅛″ [3.2 mm.]. Skin: Thickness. — Medium. Surface. —             Smooth. Tenacity. — Tenacious to flesh. Astringency. —             Slight. Tendency to Crack. — None observed. Color. — Dark             red [16. d.R] smoothly blending to Moderate reddish orange             [37. m.rO] with moderate Light yellow [86. l.Y] freckling             throughout. Occasionally small Moderate yellow [87. m.Y]             areas occur where completely sun protected. Lenticels. —             Number Per Square Inch: About 80. Average diameter: 1/48″             [0.5 mm]. Bloom. — Moderate.         -   Flesh.—Color. — Brilliant yellow [89. brill.Y] with Pale             yellow [89. p.Y] fibers throughout. Surface of Pit Cavity. —             Covered with Deep orange yellow [69. deep OY] fibers.             Amygdalin. — Moderate. Juice. — Abundant, rich. Texture. —             Firm, crisp. Fibers. — Abundant, tender. Ripens. — Fairly             even. Flavor. — A tasty blend of acid and sugar, typically             18 brix. Aroma. — Slight. Eating Quality. — Very good. -   Stone:     -   -   Type.—Freestone.         -   Form.—Oval.         -   Hilum.—Narrow.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Apex.—Acute with an average angle of 80 degrees and a sharp             tip 1/16″ [1.6 mm.] in length.         -   Sides.—Fairly equal.         -   Surface.—Rough.         -   External color of stone.—Moderate yellowish brown [77.             m.yBr].         -   Pit wall color when cracked.—Light yellowish brown [76.             l.yBr].         -   Cavity surface color.—Deep yellowish brown [75. deep yBr].         -   Average pit wall thickness.—⅛″ [3.2 mm.].         -   Average length.—1″ [25.4 mm.].         -   Average width.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].         -   Average breadth.— 7/16″ [11.1 mm.].         -   Tendency to split.—None observed.         -   Kernel.—Form. — Oval. Pellicle Color. — Dark yellowish brown             [78. d.yBr]. Skin Color. — Light yellowish brown [76.             l.yBr]. Vein Color. — Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr].             Taste. — Bitter. Viable. — Yes. Average Length. — 9/16″             [14.3 mm.]. Average Width. — ⅜″ [9.5 mm.]. -   Use:     -   -   Market.—Fresh market and long distance shipping.         -   Keeping quality.—Excellent. Fruit quality observed to remain             in good condition in after 30 days in standard cold room at             36° Fahrenheit [2° Celsius].         -   Shipping quality.—Excellent.         -   Resistance to insects.—Not tested.         -   Resistance to diseases.—Not tested. -   Other notes: Although the new variety of plum tree possesses the     described characteristics under the ecological conditions at Le     Grand, Calif., in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is     to be expected that variations in these characteristics may occur     when farmed in areas with different climatic conditions, different     soil types, and/or varying cultural practices. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of plum tree, prunus salicina, substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to its seed parent, ‘September Yummy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,220) plum, by having a large, vigorous, and very productive tree, by blooming in the mid to late season, by being self-unfruitful, and by producing plums that are fairly globose in shape, nearly full red in skin color, very good in flavor, juicy, and firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom by producing plums that are much larger in size, by having full yellow flesh color without red bleeding near the skin, and that ripen about twenty days later. 